Winemaker's Notes:

The 2007 Hilltop is dark colored with red-purple hues. Aromas of black plum, cherry and fresh fig are wrapped in a bouquet of roasted hazelnut, coconut and Italian espresso. This wine offers large palate volume in a very soft package with a supple finish. This new world wine showcases the best of the varietal fruit, with complexity and structure reminiscent of the finest of Bordeaux.

Founded in 1972, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines crafts an array of acclaimed wines from estate vineyards in Monterey County, Paso Robles and Napa Valley. From this world-class palette of fruit, J. Lohr produces three tiers of award-winning wines – J. Lohr Estates, J. Lohr Vineyard Series and J. Lohr Cuvée Series. Selecting Monterey County’s Arroyo Seco appellation for his original vineyard, Jerry planted his first 280 acres of grapes beginning in 1972. Ideally suited for cool-climate winegrowing, these vineyards have become an acclaimed source for outstanding Chardonnay, Riesling, Valdiguié and Pinot Noir. At the heart of J. Lohr’s renowned red wine program are its 2,000 acres of estate vineyards in Paso Robles. Featuring warm, sunny days, cool nights and diverse soils, these vineyards have proven ideal for cultivating a flavorful array of grapes including voluptuous and complex Bordeaux varietals of Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Franc along with Syrah and Zinfandel. Read less

Do you love J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines? Follow them to show your support. Why?

+ Follow winery

Editorial Reviews for J Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon Hilltop Reserve

A bit minty on the nose with notes of root vegetables, radish, light red currant fruits, some angelica root and camphor, as well clay soil tones. Rather soft an entry but with a really nice medium-bodied feel. The fruit here is simple but fresh, with ripe red berries and a fine dried herb background note. Tannins are very well-managed, gliding beneath the fruit lending just a hint of austerity to the palate. The finish is very short with astringent soil tones. Easy drinking and simple. 86pts

Layered sweet toasty oak and black cherry fruit greet the nose with a touch of mocha adding an accent. Rich and fruity with some nice tannins serving to pin down the slightly soft mass of black fruit on the palate. There’s an attractive herbal edge to the black currant fruit and while this is fairly fruit-driven today, I would drink it over the near term since the tannins seems rather stiff under the fruit. Rather mocha and cocoa-toned on the finish, which reveals a fairly pronounced vein of acidity and drying tannins, along with a little heat. Big wine, a bit clumsy, with a weirdly sticky finish. 86pts

Member Reviews for J Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon Hilltop Reserve

External Reviews for J Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon Hilltop Reserve

Source: WineExpress.com

09/20/2011

Decanter magazine gave it Four Stars and said “aromas of black currant, black cherry, strawberry, integrated oak and flowers. Wonderful balance of grippy, juicy tannins and ripe fruit that is sleek, perky and fresh. Highly Recommended.” A Platinum Medal in Monterrey and God from the Dallas morning News are only a handful of the accolades this rich California Cab has received. Grown on some of the highest slopes in Paso Robles, it’s aged 18 months in Allier oak barrels.

Winemaker Notes - 2007 was a very dry year in Paso Robles, with the seasonal total for rainfall registering a scant 4.4 inches. Fortunately, temperatures were mild and did not exacerbate the extremely dry conditions. Vine canopies were small, as were cluster and berry size, resulting in some of the lowest yields we have seen in the last ten years. These natural limitations imposed on the vines resulted in remarkably good cabernet sauvignon fruit quality, with outstanding color and flavors. For the second consecutive year, we incurred no significant heat events after veraison and had very mild weather conditions straight through harvest, allowing each block to be picked at optimal flavor development.

The 2007 Hilltop is dark colored with red-purple hues. Aromas of black plum, cherry and fresh fig are wrapped in a bouquet of roasted hazelnut, coconut and Italian espresso. This wine offers large palate volume in a very soft package with a supple finish. This new world wine showcases the best of the varietal fruit, with complexity and structure reminiscent of the finest of Bordeaux.